Walking

[LostDoggy]

This makes interesting reading:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricket/article-2116812/Graeme-Swann-blast-Sri-Lankan-cheat.html

Swann in 'cheat' blast at Sri Lankan batsman Perera after heated tour opener
By Paul Newman
Graeme Swann has launched an attack on cricket's cheats after England's first tour match threatened to boil over in the extreme heat and humidity of the Sri Lankan capital.

England's innings and 15-run victory over a Sri Lankan Board XI exploded on Saturday when Dilruwan Perera appeared to offer a routine catch to Andrew Strauss at slip off Jimmy Anderson but refused to walk. With the umpire unsighted and unable to confirm that the catch had carried, he was given not out.

That sparked angry scenes at the Premadasa Stadium with several England players telling Perera exactly what they thought of him, including an outraged Swann who resumed his assault not just on Perera but on cricket's 'cheating culture'.

Plenty to say: Graeme Swann (left) is interviewed in Colombo on Sunday
'It was very difficult to take because it was so blatantly out and I'm just glad I live in an age where the DRS is in place,' said Swann. 'The thing that annoyed me was that the batsman stood there knowing 100 per cent he was out but chose to cheat.

'He then opened himself up to the level of abuse that was coming to him. To be honest I'm glad Straussy was there because I think it would have gone further than that had we not had someone with a bit of intelligence and nous to calm things down.

'It was just cheating but we live in an age where cheating is accepted in our game. If you don't walk and get away with it no-one seems to say anything. I don't agree with that.'
The incident was all the more unnecessary because it came with the Board XI certain of defeat at 63 for seven but Perera is far from alone in standing his ground and waiting for the officials to decide if a catch has carried. England's off-spinner insists this is wrong.

'I understand when people say they will leave it to the umpire but again I question their morality to be honest,' said Swann. 'The same people who say "leave it to the umpire" will then say you have to take their word if they catch it. It's horrific double standards and it's against the spirit of the game. If you know you're out then you walk off the field in my view. This is an ideal world I'm talking about.'

There is no question that England allowed the incident to get to them, a situation perhaps exacerbated by conditions here at this time of year which must rank among the toughest in cricket. The temperature here is in the early 30s but it is matched by such extreme humidity that even the fittest England team of all time's physical and mental sharpness will be tested to the full.

'There was a lot of confusion at first as to why it hadn't been given out because we didn't even appeal for it. It was so obviously out that we just celebrated,' said Swann.
'Jimmy wasn't happy and Straussy was understandably miffed that his word hadn't been taken and his integrity had been questioned. And I wanted to kill the batsman because he was cheating and was stood next to me with a smug look on his face!

'I think we may have got close to overstepping the mark but Straussy calmed it down very well. It wouldn't have happened in a Test because it would have been one of those where if you looked up at the screen it would have looked appalling. And the batsman would have been shown up.

'It wasn't even a low catch. It was six inches off the ground. I just suggested he was a cheat. Some people must have guilty consciences when they sleep at night.'

Captain cool: Swann credits Andrew Strauss (left) with defusing the row with Perera
Swann's views would not find total agreement within the England camp where 'walking' is far from official policy. Strauss, indeed, is one who has been known to stand his ground when it has looked pretty clear that he has been out. But not for the first time, England's extrovert spinner is determined to be his own man.

'I walk but you don't often get the chance to when you're caught at mid-off or cover!' said Swann. 'Selective walkers you could argue are worse than someone who just stands there but it's a very personal thing. One day I might get a faint tickle and I can prove to the world that I am a walker by heading off.

'I never used to be like this because I was brought up to not walk but it's something that has built up in me over the years. Something just doesn't seem right about it. It's like watching your team play football. If Demba Ba dived to earn a penalty for Newcastle I'd feel very uneasy about it – unless it was against Sunderland!
'If you play in a team and you know someone has cheated it just doesn't sit right. You'd like to think our game was a bit different but clearly it isn't.'

England play their final warm-up game ahead of the first Test against a Sri Lankan Development XI with Swann aware of the challenge ahead.

'I think it will be our toughest physical challenge,' he said. 'I don't particularly like the heat and it's rocket hot out there and humid too.

'We knew it was going to be tough which is why we came out here early but even if we were here for six months before the first Test I think it will have been a struggle for those of us who don't enjoy the sun. We just have to get on with it.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cri...#ixzz2Z4nQIR90

[Doc26]

Re: Walking

You did well recalling this article EJ. It does make interesting reading although unfortunately the result now remains the same. Interested to know your personal thoughts given your umpiring background.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Walking

You did we'll recalling this article EJ. It does make interesting reading although unfortunately the result now remains the same. Interested to know your personal thoughts given your umpiring background.

Commenting as a player, I walked every time and I don't know how anybody could not.

As an umpire, I had no issue with the likes of Ian Chappell who would never walk but if he got a bad one he would head off the field showing no emotion whatsoever. Once in the rooms he would belt a few lockers with his bat but nothing out on the ground.

It's the blokes who want to have it both ways that I have a problem with and the clear and obvious ones. Mr Broad?

A long time ago when Dean Jones was just starting out in State cricket, he stood there when caught at second slip. After the game I went to one of the Victorian selectors and conceded that I made blues like every umpire but not when the catch goes to second slip and suggested that he have a word with the lad.

Not sure it had any effect.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Walking

As a player, I generally wouldn't walk if I had nicked it behind or was a run out/stumping chance. My belief is that there are some decisions where it is up to the umpire to make a decision. I was a keeper too so I copped my fair share of raw deals with catches taken that weren't paid. Hitting it to slip, I figured who was I kidding......besides if you were unlucky enough to be caught in slips at the level I played it was a major deal.

The artivcle is good though....am going to facebook it/twitter it on the #ashes

[westdog54]

Re: Walking

I'm going to get all philosophical here.

I hear all sorts of arguments about why a player shouldn't walk. You'll get given out when you're not more often. Do the right thing by your team. You wouldn't expect you opponent to walk etc etc.

My view is this. If you play a sport at the highest level you become a custodian of the history of the game. Whether you want to or not you have a baton passed to you from those who played before you. You become a stakeholder in all that is good about your game.

Your first duty not to yourself, to your fans, to your teammates, to your country or to your sponsors. It is to the game itself. So when you are so blatantly out as Broad was, you walk. Just as Andrew Symonds should have walked against India when he went on to score his first test ton.

Here endeth the lesson.

[Topdog]

Re: Walking

Its rare for players to walk. Clarke doesn't and he is our captain, until he does I dont think we can complain.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Walking

I'm going to get all philosophical here.

I hear all sorts of arguments about why a player shouldn't walk. You'll get given out when you're not more often. Do the right thing by your team. You wouldn't expect you opponent to walk etc etc.

My view is this. If you play a sport at the highest level you become a custodian of the history of the game. Whether you want to or not you have a baton passed to you from those who played before you. You become a stakeholder in all that is good about your game.

Your first duty not to yourself, to your fans, to your teammates, to your country or to your sponsors. It is to the game itself. So when you are so blatantly out as Broad was, you walk. Just as Andrew Symonds should have walked against India when he went on to score his first test ton.

Here endeth the lesson.

Onya Westdog

[chef]

Re: Walking

Do you think Haddin would have known he inside edged the ball?

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Walking

Do you think Haddin would have known he inside edged the ball?

Yes, moreso that Clarke. The only qualification I have is that the English weren't sure on Haddin, whereas they were sure on Clarke.

[FrediKanoute]

Re: Walking

Its rare for players to walk. Clarke doesn't and he is our captain, until he does I dont think we can complain.

How far do you take it though? I'm all for players not walking for a nick to the keeper (some are so fine) and not walking for a bat pad (its often so line ball). Nicking a ball to slip????? You may as well hit it to midwicket and stand there acting as if it got there on its own. Fact is Broad cheated and England won because he cheated. No other decision in the game had as far reaching consequences. Forget that Clarke had used up his DRS reviews, (wasted) because that is clouding the point - was Broad out? Yes Did he know he was out? Yes Did he deliberately hang around waiting for a decision knowing that Australia could not review? Yes That is a BIG, BIG difference than not walking.

[chef]

Re: Walking

Yes, moreso that Clarke. The only qualification I have is that the English weren't sure on Haddin, whereas they were sure on Clarke.

Why hasn't he copped the same shit that Broad has?

[Topdog]

Re: Walking

I honestly see no difference. If you know you have hit it even if it is a slight nick and dont walk than you are a cheat.

[Bornadog]

Re: Walking

Fact is Broad cheated and England won because he cheated. No other decision in the game had as far reaching consequences.

You can't say that Fredi, as you don't know what would have happened straight after. The whole circumstances change, the next batsman comes in earlier, there are different balls bowled and he may well go on and make a ton? The events and timing is changed.

What you can say is, we could have won, had Broad not had the opportunity to make those extra runs.

[mighty_west]

Re: Walking

I honestly see no difference. If you know you have hit it even if it is a slight nick and dont walk than you are a cheat.

If a bowler appeals for an LBW decision and knows the ball hit bat first or knew he got lucky with one clearly knowing it was missing but in both cases the ump got them wrong, is he a cheat for not calling the batsman back in both cases?

[mighty_west]

Re: Walking

We live in a cheating/dishonest world, I know in my experience at club level whether it being the lower matting grades or A turf, easily 90-95% of cricketers don't walk or don't call batsmen back when they know they got lucky.